After weeks of optimism that the NBA and Players’ Associations could reach a new collective bargaining agreements without any issues, there has been a snag in negotiations.
According to the VP of the NBPA, Carmelo Anthony, the two sides would need a “miracle” to reach agreement on a deal by Thursday’s deadline for either side to opt out of the current CBA. Following reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
Carmelo Anthony, VP of the NBPA says, "We were supposed to have a deal done weeks ago, and for this to happen at the 25th hour is tough."
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 10, 2016
At one point I asked Melo what would have to happen to get a new CBA done before Thursday's opt-out deadline. He said, "A miracle"
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 10, 2016
Melo says "as players, we want to get a deal done. I thought that we had a deal done a week ago." Wouldn't expound on nature of late snag
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 10, 2016
Furthering @HowardBeck deadline extension theory: Melo said "Countless hours and meetings over the next couple of days" would be needed.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 10, 2016
A few quick thoughts:
It was always going to be difficult to fully commit to a deal in the middle of the NBA season. The full schedule makes it incredibly difficult to have the necessary time set aside to make things work out.
If the two sides do not reach a new CBA deal by Thursday, which now seems likely based on Carmelo Anthony’s comments, that’s not the end of the world. While both sides would likely choose to opt out of the current CBA, it would not necessarily mean a lockout. The current CBA would not actually expire until the end of June, giving the NBA and NBPA plenty of time to fix whatever issues have transpired. That may not even matter as, according to Shelburne, the two sides could choose to extend the deadline:
Yep. Still talking. Question is whether there's enough time before Thursday to resolve this or they'll extend deadline. https://t.co/mdLYdszeOf
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 10, 2016
The only pessimism that I have is that the players are turning to the media to express their frustration. Usually, that means there are some major negotiation issues happening and that the two sides are far from a deal. That said, it’s hard to take much from Melo’s statement considering we do not truly know what the issue is.
Hopefully, this can be resolved at some point so that we can all avoid another lockout.
